For my emergency medicine site evaluation, Professor Mohamed was my evaluator. I presented two cases from my rotation, along with a journal article that provided additional insight into one of the patients.

The first case involved a patient diagnosed with preorbital cellulitis. I reviewed the patient’s history, symptoms, and physical exam findings. I also discussed the treatment plan, emphasizing the importance of early antibiotic therapy to prevent complications—particularly the progression from preorbital cellulitis to orbital cellulitis. I highlighted the value of performing a CT scan of the orbit to definitively distinguish between these two conditions. This case reinforced my understanding of the diagnostic process and management of preorbital cellulitis in the emergency setting.

In the second case, I presented a patient with epididymitis. I covered the patient’s history of present illness, medical history, physical exam findings, and differential diagnoses. I also discussed the various tests and treatment options. During this presentation, I addressed the controversy surrounding the treatment of epididymitis. In PA school, we were taught to base treatment on age criteria, but I found this approach somewhat misleading. To support my perspective, I presented a journal article that challenged this conventional approach. The article indicated that E. coli is a significant cause of epididymitis in younger patients, not just in older populations as traditionally thought. It highlighted the importance of obtaining a thorough sexual history to guide treatment decisions and offered evidence for rethinking the management of epididymitis.

Overall, the evaluation was an incredibly educational experience. Professor Mohamed is highly knowledgeable, especially about current research on medications and treatments. His feedback on my cases and approach to differentials was insightful, and I learned a great deal about incorporating up-to-date evidence into clinical practice.